Champ

Hollywood and Bollywood (many proponents of Indian Cinema hate this name), are two different worlds. A thin tape of film unites them. And finally, it seems, the tape is transforming itself into a mighty bridge with many cinema practitioners of both sides crossing over to explore each other’s world.

Rumours it may be, but the very thought of Hirthik Roshan playing Sylvester Stallone son and Amitabh Bachchan roped in as Stallone’s boss in the next Rambo flick Holy War creates immense curiosity in Indian sub-continent.

Source: sepiamutiny.com

The caste of the film will, if this film ever made with this combination, will ensure a bumper opening for the film in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, England, South Africa, Middle-East, Canada and USA.

Well isn’t this half of the world?

This is the potential of Bollywood+Hollywood – if someone could successfully tap this unexplored territory.

Probably Bend it like Bekham was an example of this deadly combination. But it was a small film with limited budget. But it made millions!

I can’t wait to see something as big as Rambo, being made with Bollywood and Hollywood stars.

”The role of UN Secretary General Amit Talian, in the Holy War draft, was written especially for Amitabh Bachchan! As Stallone, 59, continues flexing steely muscles, it’s only fitting that his new boss — after Richard Crenna, who played Colonel Trautman, his original mentor, passed away in 2003 — be someone who embodies the never-say-die spirit as heartily as the Italian-American superstar himself.
But the best is yet to come.

Rambo’s Afghani-American stepson (or his Afghani-adopted son, going by the draft we read) is slated to be played by — hold your breath — Hrithik Roshan!

Talking about Hrithik, it mentions a resemblance between him and Stallone himself, and talks about how the young Indian stud currently has all the staying power needed to make the first truly big crossover Indian-American film. “ (reference rediff.com)

However, no dotted lines have been signed yet. But there are some indications which make fans pregnant with expectations:

“1. The film will have a shooting schedule in India

2. Nu Image (which has the franchise for Rambo) is currently scouting for Rambo IV locations in Mumbai and Nagpur

3. Talking about Hrithik, it mentions a resemblance between him and Stallone himself

4. The Nu Image press release gushes about Bachchan’s recent appointment as the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador (Stallon in Holy war will play a committed family man, an environmentalist working at the UN headquarters in New York)” (reference).

I’ve been hearing this “rumour” about Hirthik playing Rambo since 2001. I wonder if it will really ever materialise. But as far as my instinct goes, this combination has a massive potential.

At some day, I actually plan to make a business presentation to Hollywood producers as to why it makes huge business sense to tap Bollywood market.

Hope someone explores it before that… or will it me who will do the honour someday…;-).

Reference:

1. Rediff.com
2. IMDB.com

Series of blasts has rocked Indian capital. And linking the blast to ‘now controversial’ Hindi film Jo Bole So Nihal and Sikh community has further complicated the situation.

Two blasts occurred in cinema halls. Both cinemas were screening the Sunny Deol-starrer film at the time of the explosions. Another blast followed took place in northeast Delhi on the following day.

The screenings of the film has been stopped all-over India, except Mumbai.

And as Arnab puts it “I just cannot come to terms with this bit of senseless violence. You go to a Sunny Deol movie, the worst that can happen to you is a bad headache. Not this.

Something is very very wrong with the picture.”

I wont’ comment on picture as I haven’t seen it, but usual political gimmickry followed after the accident. Series of allegation and counter-allegation flown ever since the accident happened. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the supreme body managing Sikh shrines in the country, has termed the incident as an attempt to malign the ‘peaceful’ Sikh community.

The ‘peaceful’ body which forced distributors to withdraw this film from the state of Punjab and had been demanding that the film should get clearance from SGPC.

At times, I wonder why we have Indian Film Censor Board. Especially when we have these highly accomplished hawkish religious leaders, and I’m talking for every religious group in India, lurking on grab any opportunity to flare religious sentiments.

The BJP as usual saw ISI (Pakistan’s intelligence agency) hand in it.

I think unless common man understands that these issues have no relevance in their day-today life, little change is expected.

The VHP, which built career out of such petty issues, was the front runner in exploiting meaningless agendas. End ever increasing list of 24-hour-news-channels, any live action is a fabulous news story. The situation complimented each other needs…u create ruckus, we provide coverage.

So every time two young couple go to celebrate St Valentin’s Day, bash them up. Every time a film like Fire released, burn posters, disrupt the shows…and look where we have reached.

I was surprised when I spoke to some Sikh guys in Australia about the issues and they endorsed the view that Sunny Deol shouldn’t have used the name Jo Bole So Nihaal. Gowd…who the hell owns the copyright for this ancient war cry? Even the director of the film is a Sikh. He has all the rights to use it. And forget his being Sikh or non-Sikh…as an Indian I have right to freedom of expression…and that’s it.

References:

1. Indianfm.com
2. rediff.com
3. greatbong.blogspot.com
4. www.clublez.com

Before coming to Australia, I was working on a project to make a documentary on the life of truckers. I travelled from Delhi to Mumbai hitch-hiking with truckers to write an article for Hindustan Times.

Though I had a fair bit of idea about their lives but sharing days and nights with them was a totally enlightening experience.

Those ten days were one the most moving period of my life.

If you thought sales, TV news or call-centres were the high-pressure jobs, try exploring trucker’s world.

You are racing against time to meet a sharp delivery deadline with a loaded truck on one of the most trying highways. Everyone driving along you thinks you are a drunkard rash driver who is responsible for every accident on the highway.

There are cops, road-tax officials and ubiquitous pooja-pandals (religious processions) who are waiting like vultures to extract some money from your pocket. And if you resist, you get a thrashing in the middle of the road.

In such harassed, over-worked, environment, these entertainment starved truckers keep going back to sex-workers…and I don’t blame them. Probably, they are the only one who talks them nicely.

A girl in Delhi did attempt a documentary on the life of truckers. I think it was called “Rock stars of India”. It was commendable attempt by the very fact that that young girl dared to spend time with someone who are considered outcaste, criminal, drunkards etc. (she also travelled with them for days.)

Even I was exploring the funding options when I had to move to Australia…and the project went into a cold-storage. Today, I saw a news item about two guys who have found funding for exactly similar project at CANES!!

To tell you the truth, I felt a bit jealous…not because they got funding…but because they got the funding for the same project. Isn’t it natural?

But at the same time…I’m really proud of Harry and Rishi…especially what they have achieved at the Canes platform. Great job guys! I’m also happy that this topic will be dealt professionally now.

I’m looking forward to see their work…I personally have huge expectations from you…so do a fabulous job…best of luck.

Like any other electronic media, radio is also buzzing-out digital frequencies. But is the new technology going to kill the radio we have known? According to my friend Travis, the death of radio is inevitable.

His argument says, radio, by its very definition, is a medium which only involves listening. The moment any visual aspect added to it, it is no more a radio. It either becomes TV, internet or whatever…but it ceases to be a radio.

And digital radio’s potential to carry data with the sound poses this ‘threat’ to the existence of radio. (BTW, XM radio has won the rights broadcast the FIFA World Cup 2006. Check out what else is being offered).

But before we get into more arguments, let us find out what digital radio is and how it is different from regular radio we have hearing all our lives? (Check Out: How to listen to digital radio).

“Over-the-air broadcast or cable radio that uses a compressed digital format for transmission. Digital radio effectively increases the capacity of a transmission channel. It also can accommodate data as well as audio transmission.” (www.bnet.fordham.edu/carey1/glossary.htm)

According to another definition: “Digital radio describes radio technologies which carry information as a digital signal.” (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_radio)

“How is this different from FM?

The ‘multipath’ interference which disturbs FM reception (caused by radio signals bouncing off buildings and hills) is eliminated in DAB. Digital radio sets have processors which filter out interference and correct signal errors. Digital radio is designed to use ‘multipath’ to its advantage. DAB technology allows the receiver to combine delayed signals, making for a more robust reception overall.” (http://www.bbc.co.uk).

In a layman’s language digital radio is a technology which converts analogue signal into digital (binary) code.

So what are the advantages of digital radio?

There are many advantages of digital radio over the traditional radio. However, the biggest plus with digital is its potential to reduce transmission disturbance. Plus, the digital signals can carry data with it, which can be converted into words on the small screen of a digital radio.

Radio station owners are using this facility to send information about songs (singer, music director, album, sports result, plot summary, email addresses or any other tit-bit). Also, this facility is being used to flash news headlines on radio screen. Media watchers further predict that digital radio will further expand and provide free useful information and programmes guides. The brand new digital radios have the option of pause, rewind and even digital recording of a live broadcast!

I can’t wait to see google launching something to search for audio content or make google search engine accessible on digital radio. (Latest news on digital radio).

Coming back to out topic, equipped with these facilities, according to Travis’s argument, digital radio is either a website or TV…anything, but it can’t be JUST radio.

As a counter to Travis’s argument, even TV is not the same old TV what we used to see as kids.
You have interactive TV, reality TV. Further, with emergence of TiVO and PVR, TV viewing is not the same. Moreover, TV has moved to internet, internet has merged with print, cinema has moved to computer screens, TV screen is being condensed to mobile phones…and I don’t know what else moving into what…it is mind boggling at times.

Probably, time has come when sharp boundaries, which separates one-medium-to-other, has to be erased. We are truly moving towards to the age of convergence. Perhaps in the next 5-10 years, radio, tv, internet, audio/video cd players, cinema everything will move into the little instruments in our pockets—mobile phones.

That one instrument will keep us connected with the world. Probalby, we will sit and figure what to call. What do you reckon Trav?

1. Digital Radio buyer’s guide

2. To find out about the full range of DAB sets available visit:

Digital Radio DAB
Simply Radios
Digital Radio Now

3. Check out exciting new digital radio stations

. Five Live (sports)
. 6 Music
. BBC 7: Comedy, drama, books and kids programmes
. Asian Network
. 1Xtra: hip-hop, street music

References:
1. www.bnet.fordham.edu
2. http://www.bbc.co.uk/digitalradio/about

On May 13, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (DDLJ) completed 500 weeks at Maratha Mandir, a film theatre in India’s film city Mumbai, where it has been running everyday since it was first released in 1995!

I remember watching this movie with my buddy Amit. And I remember how we persuaded three pretty gals to “sell” their tickets to us.

Getting cinema ticket for a Shah Rukh Khan’s super hit film in the first week of its release, that too in a theatre located in Delhi’s main business district Cannought Place, is an impossible task.

But trust Saurabh-Amit combo to work.

Amit managed to convince three pretty gals, who were waiting for two more friends to join them, that they are missing the best part of the movie. And they should get in the theatre immediately and offcourse instead of wasting the ticket, they can always sell those tickets to us.

Amit’s magic worked and the gals agreed. However, Amit, who had seen the movie on the first day itself, knew that once inside the hall gals will know that film was yet to start. So, once we got our tickets, we decided to give them a slip. (Cinema halls are really huge in Delhi and once inside dark theatre, it is really easy to get lost…and if someone has the intention to do so, it is a cakewalk.)

Lost in the crowd we sat in a quite corner. As Amit had already seen the film, he knew exactly when it will be interval and we, in pursuit to avoid the gals, walked out of the theatre just before the interval and entered again seconds after the screening re-started.

And as soon as the film ended, we walked out of the hall. After walking a few steps, we realised we had not payed the gals for the tickets. First we had a hearty laugh…than mischievous thoughts passed the mind of not paying them at all…but fresh from SRK’s movie and totally charmed by mischievous but dependable Raj, we decided to walk back to cinema theatre and pay the gals. However, gals were not there. Unable to find them, and we decided to use that money and bought ice-creams.

However, there was more in store for us. As soon as payed for the ice-cream, those gals re-appeared. This time, with those friends in the toe on who’s ticked me and Amit had watched the film.

Panic gripped us.

Fortunately, we had some money in our pocket… our examination fee! We paid the gals and offered the ice-cream…but they obliviously furious at us, refused. We treid telling them…common Senoritas…bade-bade Sharon main aise choti-choti batein to hoti raheti hai….(Such small things keeps happening in the big cities…a famous dialogue from DDLJ). But, they just took the money and went away.

We never bumped into those gals again…but if ever they read this…there is an invitation to watch the movie with us…for the old times sake… .

On May 13, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (DDLJ) completed 500 weeks at Maratha Mandir, a film theatre in India’s film city Mumbai, where it has been running everyday since it was first released in 1995!

Literal translation of Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge is Brave hearts will take the bride….but it is not actually as dramatic in Hindi as it sounds after translation. One can never catch the same sense in translations. However, you can buy a DVD, if you haven’t seen it so far. (Ten reasons to watch DDLJ .)

I watched this movie with my buddy Amit. And I remember how we ‘persuaded’ three pretty gals to “sell” us their tickets to us.

Perhaps, DDLJ had more influnce on the entire generation of 90s than anything else. This film also marks the entry of a Non-resident Indian (NRI) hero in the Bollywood.

Within a year, half of my friends moved to US, UK, Canada, Australia and became NRIs! A few have found their Senoritas (heroine of the DDLJ), while some are still looking for them .

DDLJ is superstar Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol’s biggest hit and has become a Bollywood classic. (Read SRK’s take on DDLJ’s achievement). To tell you the truth, whenever I watch this movie, I still get goosebumps. (Review DDLJ) (Read other’s views).

It’s Indian romance at its best. We all grew up watching enough candyfloss where boy tries to get the bride when it’s too late in the film. And he dramatically wins the gal during the wedding procession.

But DDLJ takes it to a different level. Raj, the protagonist, had, despite his ultra-cool dad and London upbringing, solid Indian character. Hence the twist: the bride must be won via persuasion, not purloining.
Perhaps, one of the biggest plus of DDLJ was its characters. If all boys identify with ultra-cool, but dependable Raj, all gals till date want to be Simran and all love-birds dread having one Bauji (Gal’s father) in their lives.

The lead couples on-screen chemistry redefined the image of lover for the next decade.

This film not only sums up Bollywood filmmaking, but also marks beginning of a new era in Indian cinema. For the first time Bollywood actually connected with the second generation NRIs. It was the first serious attempt to tap swelling NRI/international market for Indian films. With this film emerged a new trend in Indian film Industry…for the first time overseas market became more lucrative than domestic market. (Charles Taylor wrote an article about DDLJ for Salon last year.)

The début film of Adity, son of Bollywood veteran Yash Chopra, is an example of clever craftsmanship. It was a modern film with lots of urban feel in characters and dialogues. But under the watchful eyes of Dad Yash, Adi brought enough masala for the front benches as well – so there’s a typical stern but essentially understandable father in Amrish Puri; there’s the East or West, Punjab is best song, Ghar Aaja Pardesi; there’s clichéd use of background score which goes up with emotional intensity; and then there are hackneyed bits of Mother-daughter, husband-wife, father-son dialogues.

However, the magic of DDLJ is in achieving the perfect balance of all ingredients. The film achieves a fine equilibrium between commercial needs, quality entertainment and innate desire to experiment. Endless viewing brings out new shades in every scene.

Everyone of my generation, and perhaps next and another one after that, have our favourite moments from the film — Raj’s refusal to come to Simarn’s wedding; now Bollywood’s two most popular two-words “Mema-shema”; an anxious Raj stammering ‘beer’ instead of lassi to Bauji; and there are women, who were perhaps teenage gals when the film was first released, still swoon each time Shah Rukh, lost in Simarans thoughts runs his hand through windswept hairs during Ho gaya hai tujhko to pyaar sajna song. Today, perhaps their daughters give them company when drool over SRK’s boyish charms.

Just five hundred weeks. Hell, we can have 500 more!

References:
1. Hindustan Times
2. Rediff
3. The Hindu
4. IndiaFM

Digital technology is perhaps the biggest change that has happened to filmmaking since talkies. It is set to change the way films are being made, distributed and exhibited.

This technology holds the potential to offer a paradigm shift for cinema. It not only dramatically reduces the costs and opens new revenue streams, but also conceives unlimited scope for creativity.

Like any other successful enterprise, money is triggering this change in the show business. Just to give an idea: One hour’s worth of 35 mm film costs thousands of dollars. One hour’s worth of digital HD tape costs less than $100!

Further, by opening up the tools of media production and distribution to a broader segment of the general public, digital technology has sought to democratize the means of production and exhibition to foster grassroots creativity.

In the distribution segment, a digital film can be directly transmitted from production centre to a digital theatre over a satellite link. Moreover, the new 4K digital projectors (4096 x 2160 pixel resolutions), costing $60,000, displays images at four time bigger resolution than the existing high-definition displays.

Also, the film has multiple levels of encryption which protects it from piracy. The digital movies not only look and sound better, but also reduce the cost of distribution, eliminating the need for making expensive prints and the need to rent, deliver, collect and store prints. It is also much easier on digital to manipulate the last minute programming at a theatre. If a film is a successful and deserves more theatre screening, it would need just a few clicks on computer to do so.

However, not everything is positive about digital cinema.

Currently, there is no standard format for digital technologies around the world. Everyone is working to their own specifications.

“Identifying the need for a single technological standard for digital cinema, major studios have formed an organisation called Digital Cinema Initiatives (DCI) which is formulating a strategy for this transition.” Source: www.indiantelevision.com

While this is beginning to be addressed by the industry, it is going to be a number of years before a standard is agreed.

On the contrary, traditional cinema allows film to be played all over the world without any worries about compatibility. It doesn’t matter if you are in a first world or a developing country—all you need is a film and a projector and the show starts.

Moreover, the new technology is heavily tilted in favour of production houses. It brings huge profits to them, but it changes little, business wise, for a cinema hall owner. Unless new business models are evolved, there is little investment expected in digital infrastructure by the theatre owners.

In his attempt to explore new revenue model director “Steven Soderbergh unveiled a unique plan to make digital movies for simultaneous release in theatres, on television and on DVD.” He also offered to explore the possibility of sharing video and TV revenues with theatre owners if the theatre owners do not protest simultaneous releases. Soderbergh and 2929 Entertainment have signed a pact to take this project ahead. (source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/)

The new technology will take some time to establish; new business models will take more time to emerge. But howsoever long it might take, there is little doubt that the future belongs to DIGITAL.

References:
howstuffworks.com
rediff.com
indiantelevision.com
www.abs-cbnnews.com
www.news.com
Some books and journals

TV, cinema and computer are passé. The little screen in your pocket is what every advertiser eyeing.

With Microsoft unveiling Windows operating system for mobile phones, the war for eyeballs has finally converged to our handsets. Suddenly there is a spurt in the content exclusively being generated for the mobile phones. With the entry of 3rd generation mobile phones, the platform seems to be set for the action. (Discuss 3G technology)

However, it is not only media content which has found another platform in mobile, the business is flowing both ways. “BIG Brother fans, keen to keep an eye on their favourite housemates, are helping keep the owner of Australia’s mobile video network, 3, on track to finish 2005 in a breakeven position.” (www.news.com)

Exclusive strategies are being planned for converging existing media content with the new platform. A California based mobile content distributor, Go TV, which is among Fortune’s list of 25 breakout companies for the year, is providing a three-minute recap of the Desperate Housewives. So, if the next time you miss a show, just download a recap before the next episode is broadcasted. (Catch up developments on Desperate Housewives)

Companies like Nielsen//NetRatings have developed a service for telecoms providers enabling them to measure and analyse mobile content usage. (www.mrweb.com)

Fortunately, mobile is not seen as an another screen for existing content. Media experts, realising its potential, are already planning exclusives programmes for the medium. In Australia, a mobile company has agreed to produce a serial (I think 16 episodes) just for mobiles screen.

Moreover, the mobile companies are also rising up to the new opportunities. Nokia recently launched a phone Nokia N91 which has a 4GB harddrive! The first computer I used had a 1 GB hardrive (and after installing it wondered if I’m ever going to use the entire space!!)

There are new innovative services which are cramming for your mobile space. Travelocity takes MMS backwards and offers to deliver your postcard - created from a camera phone picture - directly to an address of your choice.

However, the big question is has the mobile industry matured to handle the boom. Or is there actually a market which exists in our teeny-weeny handset. All the market research companies and business guru are going ga ga over the opportunities thrown up by mobile. However, I, being someone who saw Internet going boom to bust, is sceptical about it. I would suggest waiting and watching. Internet is yet to reach the levels it promised. However, with broadband finally limping towards mass reach (at least in USA), I see some +tive energy flowing there.

What is the future of mobile phones? Is mobile going the internet way — from boom to bust in 3 years?

Predicting future is dangerous business, but as someone rightly said “art of seeing into the seeds of future marks the difference between a well anticipated turn and accident”.

So, let me take the dangerous turn.

I think mobile has quite a few advantages over internet. First being its mass reach. Mobile phones have become an extension of human body for the younger generation. Their life revolves around this gadget. Moreover, unlike internet, mobile has penetrated among older generation as well.

Tell my dad to use internet and he would shirk, scream and run away like a 5 year old boy. But he is very comfortable with mobile. It has been extension of what he has been using all his life — telephone. And slowly he has picked up the other features like songs, sms, video and games as well.

Plus, mobile is slowly becoming a PC in your pocket. It is converging internet, TV, video games, audio/video CD-player into one small machine. With new features being added every day, mobile is destined the rule. But will the content-models being planned for it will survive? Well that’s a debatable question.

Want to know more about Mobile facilities, check out Bliplog.

References:
1. www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/business/articles/0511microsoft11.html
2. www.groups.google.com.au/group/3GMobile-phones?hl=en
3. www.news.com
4. www.nielsen-netratings.com
5. www.bliplog.com
6. www.news.google.com